Yolanda Martini

On November 24, 2022, Yolanda Martini quietly slipped away surrounded by love.

She was born in Worcester on May 17, 1927, the youngest of 8 children born to Italian immigrants Gaetano and Lucia (Mastromatteo) Lapriore. She graduated from Commerce High School and attended Salters Secretarial School. She worked in the Stenographic Department of the former Graton and Knight Company until her children were born. She later was employed as the First Head Clerk of the Worcester Head Start program, where she worked for 25 years, before retiring in 1991.

Yolanda is survived by her daughter Gloria and her husband Randy Coop, her son Joseph and his wife Angela Martini; her grandchildren, Erica and her husband Kevin Cross, Joseph Jr. and his wife Kimberly Martini, and Jessica Coop; her great-grandsons Jameson Fahlbeck and Jack Cross. She was predeceased by her 3 sisters, Christine Franchi, Margaret Scaturro, and Mary Gallati, and by her 4 brothers, Samuel, Anthony, Gerry, and Joseph Lapriore.

With not much more than her love, Yolanda managed to bring up her 2 children, and she did this by herself at a time when it wasn’t the norm. Her family is blessed to have shared so many special moments with her: a good meal, countless vacations, Red Sox games and the occasional trips to Foxwoods. She enjoyed Italian operas, all New England sports teams, bowling and very long walks. Yolanda was a quiet, gentle, but oh-so-strong, selfless soul whose loss will be with us throughout our lives. She was a lifelong member of St. Ann/Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

Yolanda’s funeral services will be held Thursday, December 1 at the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. Calling hours will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with a brief prayer service at 11:15. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester.

The family requests that flowers be omitted and suggests donations to the Visiting Nurses Association and/or the VNA Hospice of Worcester at VNA Care, Fund Development,120 Thomas St., Worcester, MA 01608 or via www.vnacare.org

Their compassionate care of our mom was a light in our darkest moments.